Everything you need to prepare for a networking event, from crafting your elevator pitch to following up with new contacts and building lasting professional relationships.
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Event Research and Goal Setting
Research the event format, attendee list, and speakers
Check the event website, LinkedIn event page, and social media hashtag. Knowing who will attend lets you identify 5-8 specific people you want to meet and research their backgrounds.
Set a specific goal of making 3-5 meaningful connections
Meaningful means you exchange contact information and have a reason to follow up. Trying to meet everyone results in shallow conversations that lead nowhere. Quality over quantity.
Identify 3 people you specifically want to meet and research their work
Read their recent LinkedIn posts, published articles, or company news. Mentioning something specific they worked on shows genuine interest and makes you stand out from the 50+ people they will meet.
Elevator Pitch and Talking Points
Prepare a 30-second elevator pitch covering who you are and what you do
Structure it as: what you do, who you help, and one interesting result. Practice until it feels natural, not rehearsed. Record yourself and aim for a conversational tone under 30 seconds.
Prepare 5 open-ended conversation starters beyond 'What do you do?'
Try questions like 'What project are you most excited about right now?' or 'What brought you to this event?' Open-ended questions lead to 3-4x longer conversations than yes/no questions.
Prepare 2-3 brief stories that illustrate your expertise or values
Stories are 22x more memorable than facts alone. Keep each story under 60 seconds and end with a clear takeaway. Practice telling them to a friend before the event.
Think of 2 ways you can offer value to the people you meet
Value could be an introduction to someone in your network, a relevant article, or a specific piece of advice. People remember those who gave them something useful, not those who only asked for things.
Materials and Logistics
Update and print business cards or prepare a digital contact-sharing method
Bring 20-30 cards for a typical event. If going digital, have your LinkedIn QR code or a contact-sharing app ready and tested beforehand. Always have a backup method in case of tech issues.
Charge your phone and prepare a note-taking method for follow-ups
After each conversation, jot down 2-3 details about the person and what you discussed. These notes make your follow-up messages personal and specific, which doubles response rates.
Plan your outfit appropriate to the event dress code
When in doubt, dress one level above the expected dress code. Business casual is the safe default for most professional events. Wear something with pockets so your hands are free for handshakes.
Plan your arrival time for 15 minutes after the event starts
Arriving too early means standing alone in an empty room. The 15-30 minute window after start time is when most attendees arrive and the energy is right for approaching people naturally.
During the Event
Approach groups of 3 or open pairs rather than closed circles
Look for groups with open body language (not facing inward in a tight circle). People standing in groups of 3 with an open gap are subconsciously inviting others to join.
Listen more than you talk and ask follow-up questions
The 70/30 rule works well: listen 70% and talk 30%. People rate conversations where they did most of the talking as the most enjoyable, which means they remember you more positively.
Gracefully exit conversations after 5-8 minutes to circulate
Use transition phrases like 'I do not want to monopolize your time' or 'Let me introduce you to someone you should meet.' Lingering too long with one person means missing 3-4 other potential connections.
Follow-Up System
Send personalized follow-up messages within 24 hours
Reference something specific from your conversation. A message sent within 24 hours gets a 75% response rate versus 25% for messages sent after 48 hours. Keep it to 3-4 sentences.
Connect on LinkedIn with a personalized connection note
Include where you met and one thing you discussed. Generic connection requests are accepted 40% of the time, while personalized ones are accepted 70% of the time.
Deliver on any promises you made during conversations
If you said you would send an article, make an introduction, or share a resource, do it within 48 hours. Following through on small promises builds trust faster than any amount of small talk.
Schedule a coffee meeting or call with your top 2-3 new contacts
Suggest a specific date and time rather than leaving it open-ended. 'Are you free Tuesday at 10am for a 20-minute coffee?' gets 3x more responses than 'Let's get together sometime.'
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people should I try to meet at a networking event?
Aim for 5-7 meaningful conversations rather than collecting 30 business cards. Research shows that professionals remember and follow up with a maximum of 5-8 new contacts per event. Spending 10-15 minutes per conversation allows enough depth to establish a genuine connection. Quality conversations that lead to follow-up meetings generate 10x more career value than brief introductions.
What should I say after introducing myself at a networking event?
After your name and role, ask the other person about themselves: 'What brought you to this event?' or 'What are you working on that excites you right now?' These questions are more engaging than 'What do you do?' which feels like an interview question. Listening 60% of the time and speaking 40% creates the impression of an engaging conversation — people remember how you made them feel more than what you said.
How soon should I follow up after a networking event?
Send a personalized LinkedIn connection request or email within 24-48 hours while the conversation is still fresh. Reference a specific topic discussed: 'Great talking about the shift to AI in supply chain — here is that article I mentioned.' Waiting longer than 72 hours cuts follow-up response rates by 50%. Suggest a specific next step ('Coffee next Tuesday?' or 'I will send you that introduction to Sarah') to move beyond a generic connection.
What should I bring to a networking event?
Bring business cards (yes, still relevant in 2026 — 72% of professionals keep cards they receive), your phone charged above 80% for exchanging digital contacts, and a pen to jot notes on the back of cards you collect. Wear something with a pocket to keep received cards separate from your own. A light snack beforehand prevents the distraction of hunger and avoids the awkwardness of trying to network while juggling a plate of food.
How do I network at events when I am introverted?
Arrive in the first 30 minutes when the crowd is smallest and conversation groups are not yet formed — approaching a pair is much easier than breaking into a circle of six. Set a specific goal (talk to 3 people, stay for 90 minutes) to create a defined endpoint. Position yourself near the bar, food table, or registration desk — these are natural conversation starters. Taking a volunteer or helper role (welcoming attendees, managing sign-in) gives you a built-in reason to approach everyone.